Summary
- Sheriffs in the U.S. have historically used their power to maintain a particular balance of power often along racial and class lines.
- Recent example of an Ohio sheriff using derogatory language towards immigrants and targeting supporters of immigrant rights.
- Sheriffs have a long history of enforcing inequality through both formal and informal powers.
- Personal views of sheriffs can impact their office’s policies, with negative attitudes towards immigrants correlated to anti-immigrant practices.